Diocesan Cycle of Prayer 2021 The format of this Prayer Leaflet allows for either day by day prayer through the month or a complete cycle which can be used over a two month period using the Month A and Month B entries. Month A Month B January February March April May June July August September October November December Each day offer a prayer for Our Environment. You may like to conclude each prayer with these words from Psalm 104: Send forth your Spirit O Lord And renew the face of the Earth ***************************************************************************************** Copies are available to download from the Edinburgh Diocese website at www.edinburgh.anglican.org Hard copies are available upon request from the Diocesan Office. Please email [email protected] with how many you require and your postal address. Changes or corrections to the content should be notified by email to: [email protected] Or in writing to: Bishop’s PA The Diocesan Office 21a Grosvenor Crescent Edinburgh EH12 5EL Day 1 We pray for Christian Aid’s projects across the world, sometimes introducing new environmental practices and sometimes responding to disasters with emergency help. Month A Bishop John St Mary’s Cathedral: John Conway and Susie Gibbs; Marion and Steve Chatterley; Andy and Jude Philip; Paul Foster; and for all involved in ministry there. Local Concerns: Encouraging the congregation in the use of the Cathedral’s resources, buildings and grounds to deepen prayer, to enable mission and engagement with our city, and to tackle our financial deficit. Please pray for the music staff, choir and all of St Mary’s Music School, and for the Cathedral’s vocation in the Diocese to support the Bishop, and other charges, in our joint calling. Month B Bishop John Cathedral Chapter: John Conway, Provost; Frances Burberry, Dean; Ruth Innes, Synod Clerk; Anne Tomlinson, Pantonian Professor; Marion Chatterley, Vice Provost; Malcolm Round; Dean Fostekew Honorary Canons: Bill Brockie; David Rimmer; Alex Black; Michael Maudsley; John Richardson; Jane Millard; Timothy Morris; Michael Fuller; Douglas Kornahrens; Dave Richards; John Lindsay; Carrie Applegath; Paul Foster; Fred Tomlinson; Susan Macdonald; Graham Forbes; John McLuckie Honorary Lay Canons: David Palmer; Helen Hood; Paul Foster, Alistair Dinnie Dean Emeritus: Jim Mein Day 2 Faithful Creator we offer gratitude for our church gardens and graveyards and all who tend them. May they be safe havens for wildlife and people alike. "Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars". (Psalm 84 v3) Month A Bishop John St Mungo’s, Balerno: Malcolm and Sue Round; Ollie and Laura Clegg; and for all involved in ministry there. Local Concerns: For a strategy for ongoing and effective evangelism, including "Alpha" Courses and invitation services and personal faith sharing. For integration and spiritual formation of new Christians. For the growing children’s, young people’s and family work. For continued co-operation with Balerno High School, where we meet for most of our services. For the Wellness Centre and its counseling service for the community. For our Schools of Ministry and Theology for our developing work in Wester Hailes. Month B Bishop John St Ninian’s, Comely Bank: Frances Burberry, David de Pomerai, Pat Treherne, Alan Baker; and for all involved in ministry there. Local concerns: For our Pastoral Clusters, and deepening connections, discipleship and faith journeys of those we are connecting with in church and online. For our Eco Group, pushing our environment and climate change goals, and strengthening our ecumenical and international links with the Orchard Project. For Ninian’s Nippers and Coffee Hub, that they can restart to meet the needs of families and those retired looking for connection and community. Fettes College: Tony Clark Day 3 God of seedtime and harvest we give thanks for all who work in agriculture. We acknowledge the difficulties faced by farmers around the world due to changing weather patterns and increased pests and diseases. Help us to be mindful to avoid food waste and to be more modest in what we demand from the land. Month A Bishop John Mustard Seed Edinburgh: Richard Cornfield; Pioneer Priest Local concerns: Pray for us especially as we seek to grow our links with the community through our Soul Food Meals. Pray for the development of a daily drop-in centre for Soul Food especially for those who are homeless, isolated, with poor mental health and addicted. Pray for our linked charge of St Margaret's Easter Road as together we offer Christian worship and witness to the local community. Month B Bishop John St Margaret’s, Easter Road: Colin and Jennifer Reed and all involved in ministry there. Local Concerns: For witness in the local community and outreach to local community groups. For St Margaret’s Parent and Toddler Groups. Day 4 We pray for the Scottish Government, for a spirit of wisdom and determination in its environmental policy-making, including the challenge of a Just Transition away from fossil- fuels. Month A Bishop John St Mary’s, Dalmahoy: Christine Downey, Janet Dyer, Pastoral Visiting Team and all those involved in other ministries; the ‘Dalmations’ group; our new ‘ministry with young people’ planning team; and for us all in our ministries within the community and family life. Local Concerns: The ministry to wedding couples and visitors; visitors to the city and the Lothians; developing relations with local churches and opportunities for us all with expansion around Ratho, East Calder and Kirknewton. Month B Bishop John St Paul’s and St George’s, York Place: David Richards; Libby Talbot; Paul Sawrey; and all who are involved in ministry there. Local concerns: Saturday Meal – a meal / community for over 100 people who are homeless, run every Saturday evening; Babies and Toddlers groups on Thursdays; Alpha, Marriage Preparation, Marriage, Parenting, Freedom in Christ and Bible Lab courses being run during the year; our strategy of whole life discipleship, social transformation and deepening influence, together with our hopes of future church planting. Day 5 God who clothes the lilies of the field, we give thanks for the wonderous diversity of plant and animal life. Help us to care for each sparrow as much as you do. Month A Bishop John St Vincent’s Chapel, Stockbridge: Michael Hull, William Mounsey and all involved in ministry there. Local Concerns: Raising awareness of the building and congregation among the people of the New Town and Stockbridge with blessings on the many community groups who use the premises. For the Vestry and congregation in their search for a Rector. Month B Bishop John St Martin of Tours, Tynecastle: Sarah Kilbey, Stuart Robertson and Ken Webb, the Vestry and for all involved in ministry there. Local Concerns: Pray for St Martin’s congregation in its discipleship, its discernment of God's mission in the local community, the strengthening of relationships through the use of its building, and for a deepening of ecumenical links. Day 6 We celebrate Green businesses and social enterprises such as Vegware in Edinburgh and CK Polymers near Melrose and we pray that all local businesses will find ways to improve sustainability. Month A Bishop John Christ Church, Falkirk: Sarah Shaw; Ann Smith; and for the lay ministry team. Local Concerns: A growing understanding of discipleship and a recognition of how God is calling us to serve our communities. Please pray for new opportunities and also the existing projects we support. Month B Bishop John St Mary’s, Grangemouth and St Catharine’s, Bo’ness: Willie and Sarah Shaw; Isabel Dowlen; Susan Ward. Local concerns: A growing understanding of what mission means and how God wants us to serve our communities better - also for existing projects we are involved in: Grangemouth Community Care, Hope Street in Bo'ness. Continued opportunities for local churches to work together for Christ. For Messy Church, contacts with schools, and our own young people - that this ministry will be fruitful. For our fellowship as individual charges and as a linked charge. Day 7 We thank God for organisations like the Scottish Wildlife Trust – for their good stewardship of nature reserves, nurturing diverse habitats including bogs, fens, meadow, lochs and post-industrial sites such as Addiewell Bing and Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre. We ask blessing that these areas will flourish as pockets of wildlife. Month A Bishop John The Diocesan Office: Frances Burberry, Dean of Edinburgh; Dean Fostekew, Bishop’s Chaplain; Anna Poole QC, Diocesan Chancellor; Pippa Snell, Diocesan Registrar; Godfrey Robson, Diocesan Secretary; Simon Filsell, Diocesan Administrator; Sam Campbell, Bishop’s P.A.; David Lewis, Administrative Assistant; Claire Benton-Evans, Youth & Children Officer; James Parsons, Communications Co-ordinator; The General Synod Office: The Secretary General; All who serve on Committees and Boards; All members of the General Synod. Month B Bishop John St Columba’s, Bathgate: Christine Barclay; Peter and Markie Woodifield; Douglas and Pat Cameron and all involved in ministry there. Local concerns: Planning for playing our part in the building of God’s Kingdom in a post- Covid world. How to use our building and our people to serve one another and to reach out into our local community as restrictions ease. Strengthening our ecumenical relationships for our mutual spiritual growth, fellowship and service to the wider community. For a deeper, meaningful engagement though social media for people who wish to connect with us. St Peter's, Linlithgow: Christine Barclay, Peter and Markie Woodifield, Jim and Helen Mein, Tim and Christine Tunley and all involved in ministry there. Local concerns: Planning for playing our part in the building of God’s Kingdom in a post- Covid world. How to use our position on the high street, our unique building and our people to serve one another and to reach out into our local community as we emerge from Covid-19.